Electric switch



F. C. NAUJOKS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. I917.

1,344,925. Patented June '29; 1920.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FREDERICK 0.. NA UJOKS, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d J 29 9 0 Application filedFebruary 8, 1917. Serial No. 147,359.

new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the followingis a specification. This invention relates to electric switches;

and it is a general object of this invention.

to provide an electric switch simple in form and operation, andcontaining'a minimumnumber OI parts and a minimum amount of metal, andgenerally inexpensive of manuiacture; and also to provide, in a simpleswitch, a snap action to-quickly make and break the electric circuit;and, in association with good and broad contacts, to make a switch oflarge capacity though small in size.

Although my invention is applicable to other purposes andsituations, itmaybe very effectually applied'to such switches as may be used in switchsockets and other devices 01 like nature, and in plug switches such asmay be used as wall switches, automobile dash-board switches, etc.Itherefore explain preferred forms of my switch, as ap=' plied to suchsituations; but without thereby limiting myself to such preferred forms.I show preferred forms in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1,is a longitudinal vertical section showing my switch applied to a switchsocket;.Fig. 2 isa cross section taken on line 2-2 o'f Fig. 1; Fig.

is a cross section taken on line 3--3 or Fin. 1: Fig. 1 is a sectionalview showing another term of-my switch; Fig. 5 18 a secpivoted at itsapex at 16 by the simple ex.

pedient of having its apex fit into a suitably shaped notch 17 in theshell 10. In

Figs. 1, 2 3 this notch "17 is shown as being formed partly in members11 and partly in the members 12; while in Fig. 4 thenotch 17 is shown asbeing merely the lower contracted portion of the cavity 13 in the lowershell member 11?. This notch is, in these instances, so shaped as toconfine the apex; of the sector shaped member against loose movement,but so as to allow the sector-shaped member the requisite amount ofmovement about its apex as a pivot. I V y In all the forms shown inFigs. 1 to 5 the sector-shaped member 15 or 15 is preferably made of asingle piece of flat or sheet metal bent to the configurationillustrated.

Inthe form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the member is formed of a strip ofmetal whose ends are at the apex 16. The member is formed with aperipheral portion 20 and side portions 21. The periphery 20 ispreferably provided with a pair of notchesor depressions 22,circumferentially spaced apart, as illustrated, and preferably extendingtransversely across the complete face of the periphery 20, as indicatedin dotted lines in l igs. 2 and 3. A spring detent 24 has its upper endat 25 shaped so as to enter either of the notches 22; and this springdetent is of sufiicient width to engage across the whole face, orsubstantially the whole faceof the periphery 20 of the sector shapedmember 15. This spring detent 24 is set in the lower shell member 11inthe manner indicated, being seated at 26 and 27 to preventyerticalmovement, and fitting in the opening 28 in such a manner as to hold thepart fio'pressed resiliently against the sec ever,the socketconstruction, etc., is of no consequence in my lnvention; and Itherefore do not go into the details ofits construction, nor of-itselectrical connections excepting through the switch. hen the sectorshaped member 15 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, thenit does not contact with any switch member except the spring'detent 24;but when themember lois moved upwardly to a point where the springdetent engages the lowernotch 22, then the upper side part or sidemember 21 of member 15 will engage a preferably spring contact 30whichis. set in the upper shell member 10. This spring contact ispreferably made of a single straight piece of flat metal, secured by anysuitable means, as by a screw 31, and extending out of the shell member12-, so that a wire connection may be made at the binding screw 32. Theshell member 12 has narrow slot 33 through which a contracted portion 34of the member 30 passes. It will be noted that, in the specific form ofstructure shown, the slot 33 is directly over the notch 17 which holdsthe apex of sectorshaped member 15; but this slot 33 is narrower thanthe width of the notch 17, so that the notch-17 is not cut away to anymaterial extent by the slot 33. In the form shown'in Figs'l, 2' and 3preferably provide the member 15 with a pair of spring tongues 35, eachstruck out of the side parts 21 of member 15 and each projecting intothe hollow interior of the member 15. Between these spring tongues 35 Iplace the crank pin 36 of the operating crank which is formed upon theshaft 37. To the outer end of this shaft 37 the usual key, or any otheroperating means, may be attached or connected or mounted. The shaft 37is so positioned,and the throw of the crank 36 is such, as to throw themember 15 between its two positions one in which the detent, 24 engagesthe upper notch 22 and the other in which detent 24 engages the lowernotch 22. V

The -operation of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is a follows: I

Supposing the parts to be in the positions shown in the drawings, thenwhen the shaft 37 is rotated in either direction through a halfrevolution, the first action will be for the shaft to be turned againstthe upper spring tongue 35 and put this spring tongue in a state oftension, while the spring detent 24 still holds the sector-shaped member15 from movement. After a certain amount of rotation of the crank (saynearly all its total movement) then the crank engages with the sidepart21 of member 15 and mechanically operates to positively move themember 15 against the restraint of the spring detent. This positivemovement of member 15 is very small; just enough to start the detent outof the notch 22; when the tension on the spring tongue is thensufficient to force the notch entirely clear of the detent. Under theaction of the spring tongue the sector-shaped member then quicklysprings from its lower position to its upper position, the spring detententering the lower notch 22. Just before thespring detent enters thelower notch 22, the upper face of member 15 engages the contact 30 andmakes a good and broad electrical contact therewith across the entiretrical circuit from thebinding screw 32 to the part 29. Another halfrevolution of the crank 36in either direction will throw the member 15downwardly again, the action being the same as described, only reversed.It will be seen that it is the function of the spring 35 to interpose aresilient element in the means to move the contact member 15 thefunction of said resilient element being to accumulate a suflicientstress or tension to move the movable member quickly when the detent isonce released, or partially released; with the result that the movablecontact member springs or snaps from one position to the other. However,it will be under stood that it is possible to make the spring element(the tongue) do all the work of releasing the detent. That is, thetongue may be stiff enough to accumulate a stress sufficient in itselfto force the release of the detent before the crank reaches the end ofits movement. But the positive action described has the advantage ofcausing the release or yielding of the detent at a definite point in themotion of the partsit makes the action more mechanically positive. Thespring detent, and the notches 22, are for the purpose, and perform thefunction, of

releasably or yieldingly holdingthe movable tially the same form ashereinbefore described, providing it withitwo peripheral notches 22, butpreferably providing itwith only a single spring tongue 35 This singlespring tongue is preferably made bybending the side portion 21 back onitself at the apex 16; and the side portion 21 does not extend cleardown to the apex, but only extends a sufiicient distance inwardly fromthe periphery 20 to make a good contact surface adapted to engage thecontact 30 The contact 30 is mounted in a slot 40 inthe upper shellmember 12, projects across the cavity 13, opposite the part 21 ofsector-shaped contact member 15 and has'a part 41 which i is clampedbetween theshell parts 11 and 12. One of the small bolts 42, which holdsthe shell parts together, passes through the part 41 and a nut 13 maybeprovided to screw down on the part 41 to make good electrical contacttherewith; anda binding post or screw 414 may be mounted at the upperend of thebolt 42. The spring detent 2-1 is shaped at 25 ashereinbefore' explained, to engage the notches 22; and this springdetent is secured by having a part 50, preferably integral therewith,clamped between the shell member's 11 and 12 and making electricalcontact with the other bolt 42, by means of a nut 51; a binding post orscrew 52 being mounted at the upper end of this bolt.

It willbe seen that the parts just described are such asto have-anoperation practically the same as the parts described in connection withFigs. 1, 2 and 3. The main differences between these forms (and it willbe seen that there are differences of detail) in the manner of movingthe movable contact member 15. In both cases this member is movedthrough the medium of a resilient element (the tongues 35 or the singletongue 25 but in the form of Fig. 1 I employ a rotatable means formoving the movable contact member 15. This reciprocating means maypreferably comprise a rod extending through the shell, resting in slots,

61 in the lower part-11 of the shell and hav ing collars or enlargementsat 62 lying on opposite sides of the spring tongue 35 A small button 63may be provided on each end of the rod 60. hen the button on one side ispushed, the movable member 15* is moved to one position; when the buttonon the other side is pushed, the movable member 15 is moved to its otherposition. The engagement of the collars or enlargements 62 with the sideparts 21 and 21 furnishes the positive movement to force the release oryielding of the detent.

The form shown in Fig. 4 may be used as a pendant hanging switch; or maybe used in a situation where it is permanently and rigidly mounted.Itwill be noted that, al-. though I have shown two buttons 63, obviouslya single button may be used as a'push and pull button;

In the specific embodiments of my invention so far described, I haveshown the movable switch member 15 as being preferably pivoted andmoving about its pivotal point.

However, it is not a necessary feature that said member move pivotally;it may move in any other suitable manner. F or instance, it mayreciprocate, as is shown in the form of Fig. 6. In Fig. 6 I show a shell1O which may be tubular and have a stationary contact 30 at one side anda combined spring detent and contact'241 at the opposite side.

Between these two parts the movable'con-' tact member 15 is adapted toreciprocate. This movable contact member may, in one specific preferredform, be made'of a strip of resilient metal bent to a general U-shapewith a central transverse portion 7 O and side portions 71 and 72. Oneof the'side portions, as .72, may have means for engaging with detent24?; that is, it may have the spaced depressions 7 3 adapted to beengaged by the end 25 'of the spring detent. An operating rod 74 has apush and pull button 7 and connectswith the transverse part by passingthrough that part and having a pair of compression springs 7 6,confinedbetween collars 7 7 and the part 7 0, on opposite sides of the parts 70.The operation of this form of switch is substantially identical withthat of the other forms. When the button 75 is moved back and forth, asufiicient tension or stress is initially placed upon one or the otherof springs 76, and by this stress the detent 2 1 may be sprung out ofthe notch 78, the contact member. 15

other position. But I prefer here, as in the other cases, to providepositive detent releasing action. This may be had by making the springs7 6 to close up after a certain amount of movement; or by providing areduced part 74; of rod 74 to go through the part 70, the positiveaction taking place either when the spring closes, or whenthe shoulderat the end of the reduced portion reaches the part 7 O. In this form ofdevice the spring action of, the detent means may be partly in thespring detent itself and partly in the side ,72 of member 15".

In Fig. 7 I show a form substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 6.The description of Fig. 6 appliesto Fig. 7 excepting that in Fig. 7 themovable contact member 15 1s made in the special form illustrated, so asto provide two tongues 35, one

on each side of a collar 62 on rod 74:. Thus made on broad surfaces, inspite of the fact that the switch mechanism is of small'si ze and verysimple. The number of parts'is small, and the total amount of metal issmall. Furthermore, and this is an important feature, the assembly of myswitch is very simple and inexpensive. It will be seen that theoperating parts are, for the most part, held inplace without the use ofholding screws; and that said operating parts may be easily slipped intoplace in the shell. Furthermore, it will be seen that there are nopartsunder any great stressv when the switch mechanism is in eitherposition. The spring tongues, or the springs 76', are only under stressduring the moment of operation; and the spring detent and contact 24 isthe only part underpermanent resilient stress; and this stress is small.

For these reasons my switch has a long life.

ber, means including a resilient element for moving said member, notchesin said member spaced in the direction of movement thereof, saidresilient element being formed integrally with said movable contactmemher, and a yielding detent means adapted to enter either of saidnotches.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablecontact member, means including a resilient element for moving saidmember, notches in said member spaced in the direction of movementthereof, said movable contact member being formed of a single strip ofresilient metal and said resilient element being integral therewith, anda yielding detent means adapted to enter either of said notches.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablecontact memher having a spring tongue, means acting on the spring tonguefor moving the contact member, and spring detent means cooperatingwithsaid movable contact member to hold itin either oftwo positions.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablesector-shaped contact member having a spring tongue, and

having circumferentially spaced depressions on its periphery, a springdetent adapted to enter either of said'depressions, and means to movethe contact member acting upon the spring tongue. r

5. In a-device of the .character described, the combination of a movablesector-shaped contact'member having a spring tongue and havingcircumferentially spaced depressions on its periphery, a stationaryspring detent adapted'to enter either of the depressions and thereby toreleasably hold the said contact member in either of two positions,

means acting on the spring tongue to move said member, and a stationarycontact with which said movable contact member engages when in one ofits positions.

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a movable sector-shaped contact member havingcircumferentially spaced depressions on its periphery, a sta-..

tionary spring detent adapted to enter either of the depressions andthereby to releasably .integral spring tongue, a stationary springdetent adapted to enter either of the perlpheral depressions of thecontact member, a stationary contact with which the movable contactmember engages when in one position, and means acting on the springtongue to move the contact member. V

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablesector-shaped contact member pivoted at its apex and havingcircumferentially spaced depressions on its periphery and having asubstantially J central integral spring tongue, a stationary springdetent adapted to enter either of the peripheral depressions of thecontact memher, a stationary contact with which the movable contactmember engages when in one position, and means acting on the springtongue to move the contact member.

9. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a movablesector-shaped contact member pivoted at its apex and havingcircumferentially spaceddepressions on its periphery and having a pairof integral centrally disposed spring tongues, a stationary springdetent adapted to enter either of the peripheral depressions of thecontact member, a stationary contact with which the movable contactmember engages when in one position, and a crankarranged between the twospring tonguesj- 1 10. In a device of the'character described,

her, means including a resilient member formed integrally with thecontact member, for moving said contact member; and yielding detentmeans'cooperating with the movable contact member.

11; In a device of thecharacter described,

the combination of a movable contact mem ber formed of a .single stripof resilient metal; means, including a resilient member formedintegrally with and of the same strip of metal as the contact member,formoving said contact member; andyielding .the combination of a movablecontact memdetent means cooperating with the movable contact member.

12. In a device of the character described,

a hollow body having an interior notch, 'a

movable sector-shaped contact member piv- 1 oted in its apex in saidnotch, means to hold the contact member in the notch embodying aresilient element pressing against the broader end of the member, saidmember having peripherally spaced notches, and said resilient elementadapted toalso act as a detent means by entering the notches.

13. In a device of the character described, a hollow body having aninterior notch, a movable contact member pivoted at one end by havingits end lying in the notch, and spring detent means pressing against theother end of the member and acting as a yielding detent to movement ofthe member about its pivoted end and also pressing the member into thenotch.

14. In a device of the character described, a movable sector-shapedcontact member pivoted at its apex, and a spring detent engaging thecircumferential end of the member, the member and detent having formations adapted to interengage to yieldingly oppose movement of themember about its pivoted end.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movablecontact memher having a spring tongue, means acting on the spring tonguefor moving the contact member, and yielding detent means to detain themember against such movement.

16. In a device of the character described,

a skeleton-form movable switch member of sector shape, a yielding detentmeans at the bro-ad end of the member, and means for moving the memberembodying a tongue integral with the member and projecting into itsinterior.

17. In a device of the character described, a skeleton-form movableswitch member, and means for moving the member embodying a spring tongueintegral therewith, and mechanism acting on the spring tongue to movethe member.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 1st day of Februar 1917.

ran ERICK o. NAUJOKS. Witnesses:

ELwoon I-I. BARKELEW, JAMES T. BARKELEW.

